Home About Us Apostolic Free Library Questions & Answers Guestbook Order Online Search The Network

Why write to angels?

 Submitted: 8/4/2008
Post a comment or
ask a follow-up question
 
Question: If the 'angels' aren't human leaders, why was John instructed to write TO them? Scripture is clear in other passages that angels are ministering spirits to the body, not bearers of the message of salvation or spiritual instruction.
Answer: At the time of the writing of Revelation, John was the last of the Apostles of the Lamb still alive and perhaps the last living apostle who had seen the Lord. He was therefore the best, and perhaps only, man available to complete the New Testament cannon. According to the plan of God, the foundational doctrines of the New Testament Church were to be established by “the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). As the culmination and climactic fulfillment of God’s plan for man, the Book of Revelation is an indispensable element of God’s foundation of Apostolic Truth.

God certainly could have sent His messages directly to the seven churches by means of the seven angels; but if those messages were to become part of the “apostles’ doctrine,” then they had to be transmitted through an apostle. Peter wrote that we should “be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:2). The twelve Apostles plus a few other close apostolic associates such as Mark, Luke, Paul, James, and Jude, carried authority which gave a certain “divine credibility” to their writings; therefore, the Book of Revelation had to come to the church through the pen and parchment of an apostle. And John was the one who was available and was chosen to accomplish this work.

At the time of the writing of Revelation, however, John was isolated from the Christian community due to his imprisonment on Patmos. This situation presented the need to have his God-breathed Scripture delivered from Patmos to the Asian churches. The method of delivery selected by God was His seven angels.

Yes, angels are ministering spirit to the body. They minister (or serve) the body in a wide variety of ways. No where does the Bible call pastors or other church leaders 'ministering spirits' or 'angels.'


Copyright © 1999 - 2024 || Rosh-Pinnah Publications :: PO Box 337 :: Carlisle, PA 17013-0337